Capitol Contemporary Gallery March Exhibition

Date and Time for this Past Event

• Thu, Mar 5, 2020 - Mon, Mar 30, 2020  

Details

Capitol Contemporary Gallery is pleased to present a new show titled Land & Body, presenting oil
paintings by Karen Eastman and cut paper collages by Lorelle Rau. Eastman’s paintings reference the
grace of the female form, and Rau’s work abstracts the mountain landscape and presents it in striated
form. The opening reception will be on First Thursday, March 5th, from 5-9 pm featuring wine by Coiled
Wines. The show is free and open to the public and will run through March 30th.

Karen Eastman
In her Goddess series, Karen Eastman explores the use of line to emphasize the sensual shapes of the
female form. Her study begins with a black and white drawing that breaks the form down into simple
flowing segments. These sketches, in their raw form, elicit a quiet strength and a synthesis with nature.
The female form becomes integrated into the trunk of a tree or a mountain scape…female form as
nature, nature as female form. The next step is to add color. Using a bold and extensive color palette,
Karen then brings the spirit of the feminine to life.
Eastman has been painting professionally for the last 15 years. Her work has been shown in many
venues from large outdoor shows to several galleries. As part of her art career, she has created images
for the NIH in Washington DC, helped to develop an art curriculum for ArtReach San Diego, and taught
art lessons in San Diego public schools at all grade levels. Since moving back to Boise 6 years ago, she
has enjoyed working with local designers to create custom paintings for their clients and continues to
show her work at her downtown studio, local venues, and Capitol Contemporary Gallery.

Lorelle Rau
Lorelle Rau uses cut paper and appropriated imagery to investigate concepts of nature and place.
Lorelle’s work reveals the transformative qualities of nature, specifically the rich contours and textures
of the mountains, and the constant changes they undergo.
Rau's creative process strives to integrate the spontaneity of the natural world and is based on her
experience in the backcountry. Hiking enables her to become fully immersed in the moment—
focusing on her body, breath, surroundings, and destination. While ascending, mountain contours flood
her field of vision. Lorelle says, “Form, color, and shape surround me, and I am consumed by the
vastness of space. Line allows me to study the landscape at a distance; texture permits me to
investigate my surroundings more deeply.”
Rau earned an MA in Arts Administration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2015 and
received a BS in Art Management and BA in Studio Art from Appalachian State University. She currently
works as an art consultant in Boise, where she manages corporate and residential projects. While her
formal background is in arts management, she has exhibited her own work nationally since 2010 and
has art in several corporate and private collections.